CHAPTER XI
The Storm Brews
TOO greatly agitated by what she had learned to retire and compose herself to rest, Julia several times during the night reperused the papers contained in the portfolio which she had found at the barber's, and she busied herself in forming new plans and meditating other projects of vengeance. The sleep she had defied did not once greet her eyelids, and dawn found her seated before a little table on which the portfolio was lying examining again a letter which she had taken from it.
At this moment, however, the bell rang thrice, and Julia hastened to lock the papers into their receptacle, and presently Chaudoreille entered her room.
"Well," was Julia's brusque greeting to the chevalier, "what have you learned?"
"Thanks to my assiduity I am at last enabled to bring you some important news," cried the little Gascon with a self-satisfied air. "For the past forty-eight hours I have not budged from before the marquis' hotel, minutely examining all who came or went."
"Well?"
"Well, indeed! The marquis has returned."
"He is here?"
"Yes, signora, at his hotel. I saw him arrive this morning in a travelling carriage."
"Very well, I shall see him, I hope."